AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FROM SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI REAL ESTATE COMMISSION AND THE MISSISSIPPI REAL ESTATE APPRAISER LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION BOARD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1998.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Real Estate License Fund, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Real Estate Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 830,270.00.

SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be expended for the respective major objects or purposes of expenditure:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 445,346.00

Travel and Subsistence 48,000.00

Contractual Services 214,845.00

Commodities 69,150.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 31,429.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 21,500.00

Total $ 830,270.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 13

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established by law.

No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

SECTION 3. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Real Estate Appraisal License Fund, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 342,733.00.

SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 3, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be expended for the respective major objects or purposes of expenditure:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 146,559.00

Travel and Subsistence 32,000.00

Contractual Services 118,542.00

Commodities 20,900.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 24,732.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 0.00

Total $ 342,733.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 4

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established by law.

No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 3 and allocated in Section 4, funds are provided for the upward reallocation of Licensing/Certification Board Administrator to a Deputy Director II not to exceed Ten Thousand One Hundred Seventy-one Dollars ($10,171.00).

SECTION 6. From the funds provided in this act in the budget category "Personal Services: Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," funds may be expended for the following purposes, in compliance with policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditure:

(a) The components of the Variable Compensation Plan shall be maintained within the constraints of the funds appropriated herein.

(b) Funds shall be used to fund the "Realignment" component at the requirement established by the State Personnel Board.

(c) Subsequent to the application of Realignment, as specified in Subparagraph (b), above, funds shall be used to provide all eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, a Three Hundred Dollar ($300.00) "In-Service" COLA base salary increase effective July 1, 1997.

(d) All eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, shall receive a one percent (1%) salary increase on the first day of the month following their anniversary hire date.

(e) To be eligible for the salary increases specified in Subparagraphs (c) and (d), above, employees must have a current overall performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, on the effective date of the increase. Employees who, subsequent to their eligibility date, receive a performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, during Fiscal Year 1998 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating. If an eligible employee is currently at or above end step for his or her job classification, or should this salary increase cause an eligible employee's salary to exceed end step, that portion of the increase exceeding end step shall be built into the employee's base salary.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 1999 do not exceed Fiscal Year 1998 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs and/or positions are added to the agency's budget by the Mississippi Legislature.

SECTION 7. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money to the credit of the proper special funds, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer, and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.